The paper metro ticket, which appeared in 1900, won a few months' reprieve.
Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) has just decided to postpone for six months the end of the sale of cardboard T + ticket books.
At issue: the global shortage affecting the supply of electronic chips, present in Navigo cards.
“As is the case with the automotive industry, there is a tension on the supply and stocks of chips, we observe at Île-de-France Mobilités.
We are not in a situation of shortage for Navigo cards, but we must anticipate to manage stocks.
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Six more months to avoid a shortage of Navigo Easy passes
Since October 2021, the cardboard T + ticket books have been gradually withdrawn from the machines in the metro and RER stations.
Objective: to put an end to the pollution generated by these small pieces of paper and to the great waste of lost, demagnetized or crumpled tickets.
Read also The great history of the Paris metro ticket
Instead of the paper format, IDFM encourages travelers to turn to the rechargeable Navigo Easy pass (sold for 2 euros), or the “Liberté +” à la carte option.
Two sesames which use semiconductors, more and more difficult to obtain from suppliers, overwhelmed by demand worldwide.
With the end of the paper format, users are invited to turn to the Navigo Easy rechargeable pass, equipped with an electronic chip.
LP / Philippe Lavieille
IDFM predicted the final end of sales of paper ticket books in March.
On that date, all the machines, counters and traders should have stopped offering them to travelers.
However, the small cardboard rectangle is still widely used, since it still represented 60% of tickets sold last year.
The halt in sales of booklets should therefore coincide with an influx of requests for Navigo Easy passes, cards used until now by only a third of occasional travelers.
In order to avoid this peak in demand, which would suddenly reduce the available stock, Île-de-France Mobilités therefore decided to extend the sale of paper ticket books by 6 months.
Android phones will be able to "badger" and open metro doors from May
In 2022, a new step should be taken.
A novelty should make it possible to do away with paper support and badges equipped with chips.
Thanks to on-board HCE technology, Android smartphones will be able to open the metro doors.
All you have to do is buy your tickets directly in the IDF Mobilités, RATP Bonjour or SNCF app.
The arrival of this feature is expected in May.
Note that beyond the month of September, the paper ticket will continue to be sold individually (1.90 euros) or for Paris-suburbs (Origin-Destination).
The final end of the cardboard support is not expected before 2025.